Rodent bait station

ABSTRACT

An embodiment of a bait station comprises a rotatable lid and air-tight bait compartments. An additional compartment also contains bait and is accessible to rodents as they enter the station. The rotatable lid is configured to hold the bait within the compartments and can be rotated in order to replace the previously accessible bait with fresh bait from a different compartment. A key can be attached to an extension pole in order to unlock and rotate the rotatable lid without requiring a person to kneel down or bend over. A base having two entrances provides an inviting environment for rodents.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.60/976,384, filed Sep. 28, 2007, which is incorporated by reference inits entirety as if set forth fully herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to the field of rodent baitingdevices and procedures.

2. Description of the Related Art

Bait stations containing poisoned bait are commonly used to killrodents. When a bait station is to be placed in an area people canaccess, it is important that the bait station be secure andtamper-resistant so that children and others cannot access the bait.Many rodent bait stations have double locking mechanisms or special keyswhich are complicated and difficult to operate. A service specialist whoreplaces the bait must squat or kneel down to perform service on atypical bait station. This can be very time consuming and physicallytaxing when a service specialist must service hundreds of bait stations.

Other bait stations are also limited to a single compartment so that aperson must replace the bait with new bait each time the bait has beeneaten or has expired. In addition, most service contracts require thatthe bait be replaced with new bait during every service. This requiresadditional effort because bulk supplies of bait must be carried to eachstation for replacement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a bait station that can beeasily serviced without kneeling or squatting, and one that doesn'trequire carrying bulk bait supplies to the station each time the baitneeds to be replaced. An embodiment of a bait station includes separatecompartments for storing bait and at least one compartment that isaccessible to rodents. The bait is attached to a rotatable member whichis configured to hold the bait portions within the separatecompartments. As the rotatable member is rotated, the portions of baitcan be moved into different compartments, and bait which was previouslybeing stored can be made accessible to rodents. An expired portion ofbait can be replaced with a fresh portion of bait by simply rotating therotatable member.

In one embodiment, the bait station comprises a lock integrated into therotatable member which is configured to prevent tampering with the bait.A key is configured to unlock and rotate the rotatable member. The keyis also configured with an attachment portion and threads so that it canbe attached to an extension pole or standard broom stick. With the keyon an extension pole, the person servicing the bait station is notrequired to kneel down or squat in order to replace the bait.

In another embodiment, the storage compartments are configured to beair-tight and each compartment is separated from the others by innerwalls. In yet another embodiment, the bait station comprises threestorage compartments and one compartment accessible to rodents. Theupper member is a rotatable lid which fits over the compartments andcomprises bait assemblies which correspond to the compartments. Therotatable lid can be removed and rotated using a key and extension pole.

All of the embodiments summarized above and below are intended to bewithin the scope of the invention herein disclosed. However, despite theforegoing and ensuing discussion of certain embodiments, only theappended claims (and not the present summary) are intended to define theinvention. The summarized embodiments, and other embodiments of thepresent invention, will become readily apparent to those skilled in theart from the following detailed description of the preferred embodimentshaving reference to the attached figures, the invention not beinglimited to any particular embodiment(s) disclosed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a bait station.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the bait station in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the bait station in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the bait station of FIG. 1 with thehinge lid opened.

FIG. 5A is a perspective view of an embodiment of a rotatable lid.

FIG. 5B is a perspective view from below of an embodiment of a rotatablelid.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a rotatable lid withexploded bait and bait rod.

FIG. 7A is a perspective view of an embodiment of a bait station key.

FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a bait stationkey.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 depicts an embodiment of a bait station 8 comprising a base 10, ahinge lid, a rotatable lid 14, and a key 16. The base 10 includes anentry portion 18, a bait compartment 20 portion, and foot platforms 22.The foot platforms can be stepped on to secure the bait station duringservicing. The rotatable lid covers 14 the compartment portion 20 of thebase, and there is a lock 24 on the top of the rotatable lid whichcorresponds to a unique key. The hinge lid 12 is positioned over theentry portion 18 of the base 10.

FIG. 2 shows the different portions of the base 10 in an embodiment ofthe bait station. The entry portion 18 includes two holes 26 throughwhich rodents can enter and exit the bait station 18. A passageway 28exists connecting the entry portion 18 to the compartment portion 20.The compartment portion 20 comprises three air-tight compartments 30 andone compartment 32 that is open to the passageway 28 and accessible torodents. The compartments 30, 32 may be separated by removable wallinserts 34 which are configured to assure an air-tight environmentwithin the compartments 30 when the rotatable lid 14 is locked onto thebase 10.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of an embodiment of the bait station 8showing how the different parts are assembled. The rotatable lid 14 fitsover the compartment portion 20 of the base 10, positioning the baitholders 36 in corresponding compartments 30, 32. When removed, the lid14 can be rotated ninety degrees and repositioned on the base so that adifferent bait holder corresponds to the rodent-accessible compartment.In this manner, fresh bait can be made accessible to rodents by simplyrotating the rotatable lid 14, instead of replacing the bait each timethe accessible bait expires. A key is configured to release the lock 24on the rotatable lid 14 so that it can be removed from the base 10 androtated. The outer lip of the rotatable lid interlocks with acorresponding lip 40 on the hinge lid 12 to secure the hinge lid 12 inthe closed position. When the rotatable lid 14 is locked in place, thehinge lid 12 cannot be opened so that unauthorized persons can notaccess any bait by opening the hinge lid 12.

In one embodiment, the hinge lid 12 is connected to the base by hinges42 as shown in FIG. 4. When the rotatable lid 14 is removed, the hingelid 12 can be opened and the entry portion 18 can be accessed andserviced if necessary.

FIGS. 5A and 5B show an embodiment of a rotatable lid 14. There is alock hole 24 in the center of the rotatable lid 14 and a lip 38 existsalong the entire outer edge. Slots 46 are built into the rotatable lid14, which correspond to the wall inserts 34 separating the compartments30, 32 in the base 10. Several wall guides 48 extend vertically from therotatable lid 14 near the slots 46. Bait rod holders 36 are positionedon the lid so that bait assemblies can be attached to the lid andsuspended into the compartments 30, 32 of the base 10. Bait rod clips 52also extend vertically from the lid 14 as a means of securing the wirebait assemblies 50 in a proper position within the base compartments.

In other embodiments, the compartment walls can be fixed to therotatable lid so that, as the lid is rotated, the compartments rotateand a different compartment is exposed to the rodent-accessible area. Insuch an embodiment, the base may have slots that correspond to thecompartment walls or the compartment walls may be configured to create aseal with the base portion.

In still other embodiments, the rotatable lid 14 and compartment wallscan be rotated without removing the lid from the base. A key can be usedto unlock the lid and rotate the compartments without lifting the lidfrom the bait station. A circular configuration allows the compartmentsto be rotated within the bait station exposing a different compartment.

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of a rotatable lid 14 and a bait assembly 50that can be attached to the lid 14. A bait rod 52 fits through theportions of bait 54 and comprises a clip portion 58 and two holder ends56. The clip portion 58 is inserted into the bait rod clip 60 and theholder 56 ends fit within the bait rod holders 36. To replace the bait54, the holder ends 56 can be pressed together and released from thebait rod holder 36. The bait rod 52 can then be rotated about the clipportion within the bait rod clip so that the bait pieces can be removedfrom the rod 52. New bait pieces can easily be placed on the rod and theholder ends 56 secured again in the bait rod holders 36.

FIGS. 7A and 7B show an embodiment of the key 16 used to unlock therotatable lid 14 in a bait station 8. The key 16 comprises a lowerportion 62 which engages the lock 16 and an upper portion 64 which canbe attached to a pole or other extension device (not shown). The upperportion 64 includes a threaded area 66 which can correspond for example,to standard broom handle threads. The key 16 unlocks the rotatable lid14 from the base 10 and the lower portion 62 also engages the lid 14 sothat the lid 14 can be lifted off of the base 10 using the key 16 andextension pole (not shown). Thus, the person servicing the bait station8 does not need to squat or kneel down when servicing the bait station8.

A method of using the above and other embodiments comprises providing abait station as in such embodiments described above, situating the baitstation in a location that may be a locus for rodents, and providing thebait station with bait.

In another method, situating the bait station further comprises aligningthe station with a surface and securing the station to the surface ifdesired.

In one method, providing bait comprises a user approaching the stationand placing at least one body, such as a foot, wheel, peg, or weight ontop of or through a foot platform, into contact with the foot platformso as to secure the bait station in place.

Yet another method comprises employing the bait station to poisonrodents. This method further comprises providing the bait station withpoisoned bait. One method further comprises providing more than one typeof bait to the station.

Another method comprises adjusting the size of the hole to selectivelyexclude or trap rodents meeting certain size requirements.

Still another method comprises forming an assembly comprising a keysecured to the end of an extension pole or device. in anotherembodiment, a method further comprises determining whether to rotate therotating lid to make a particular piece of bait accessible from an entryportion. In another embodiment, a method further comprises inserting thekey into a key hole, and rotating the compartments by turning the key.

Another method further comprises rotating the compartments in a timedsequence, either with or without a motor that rotates at least a portionof, or an attachment to, a rotatable lid corresponding, for example, tofreshness of the bait or type of rodent or any other animal likelypresent during a given season or time of day.

Another method further comprises removing or adding bait to thecompartments selectively as, for example, automatically or manually in atimed sequence corresponding to user preference.

What is claimed is:
 1. A bait station comprising: a base having apassageway for a rodent, the passageway being comprised of at leastthree walls, including at least one end with an opening, and having abait portion being comprised of at least three side walls and having aplurality of compartments within the bait portion, each of the pluralityof compartments having at least three side walls, and one of theplurality of compartments opening to the passageway; and a lid connectedto a top of the bait portion of the base and configured to hold portionsof bait, the lid being configured so that removal, rotation andrepositioning of the lid moves the bait portions into differentcompartments of said plurality of compartments, the lid cooperating withthe walls within the plurality of compartments to form substantially airtight bait storage sections except for the one of said plurality ofcompartments opening to the passageway, the lid having an upper portionand an underside portion to which a plurality of bait portions areconfigured to be coupled, such that a number of bait portionscorresponds to a number of compartments, each of said plurality of baitportions extending away from the underside portion of the lid, the lidand the bait portion cooperating such that removal, rotation andrepositioning of the lid causes each of said plurality of bait portionsto move into an adjacent compartment of said plurality of compartments,the lid also having a lock hole formed therein configured to communicatewith a key.
 2. The bait station of claim 1 further comprising a keyconfigured to communicate with the lock hole.
 3. The bait station ofclaim 2, wherein the key is also configured to be connection to anextension pole.
 4. A method for freshening bait in a bait station,comprising the steps of: removing a lid from a bait station, the baitstation comprising a passageway, a plurality of bait compartments, andthe lid, the lid being coupled to a plurality of bait portions and beingconnected to a top of the plurality of compartments, such that a numberof the plurality of bait portions are contained within each of theplurality of bait compartments; rotating the lid to align each of theplurality of bait portions with the compartment of the plurality ofcompartments to which the portion of bait was previously adjacent; andplacing the lid back onto the bait station.
 5. The method of claim 4further comprising the steps of: placing a key into a lock hole formedwithin the lid; and rotating the key to unlock the lid from the baitstation.